SMG is quite the author! I read and fully enjoy every singe new release of hers, and Teh Bewitching is no different. This book eas inspired by the folktale her great-grandmother was telling back in Mexico while growing up. There are three timeliness that eventually intertwine. Each timeline follows a young woman who experiences strange occurences. SMG teaches us what it is to be bewitched and how one can survive this mortal witchcraft. I lived every minute of it! The eeriness, the complexity of the storyline, the realness of such far-fetched stories, the s3nse of dread that one needs to fight a power they don't see and most definitely don't understand was simply fantastic. SMG is a genius!

I feel so lucky to have gotten my hands on this ARC! This is a story of a graduate student working on a thesis regarding some unusual events that occurred throughout the 1900s. The point of view bounces between Minerva, Alba, and Beatrice, and the experiences that tie them together. There are elements of witchcraft and superstition that kept me hooked from beginning to end. This is an ode to women in horror & folklore. Silvia Moreno-Garcia has done it again.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for granting my wish to preview The Bewitching, the latest by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I've enjoyed the few books of hers I've read in the past, and this one sounded right up my alley. I will almost always read a female-centered witch fantasy, especially when it incorporates folk magic elements from cultures other than mine.

I immediately loved all the women that narrate this story across the three timelines. The characters were well developed and distinct. My only issue with the book was that the main characters made some decisions that baffled me at points, which is an issue I usually have with Moreno-Garcia's work. And like with Silver Nitrate, I was having too much fun with the story for that to bother me. I loved how the story intertwined Alba's Mexican folk magic with the Salem-style witches in the New England portions of the story.

Once again, Moreno-Garcia didn't disappoint with this one. I'll continue to seek out her writing and recommend her to other horror/thriller/suspense genre fans.

The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia weaves together three timelines of witchcraft and dark academia, following grad student Minerva as she investigates an obscure horror writer whose famous novel was inspired by her roommate’s mysterious 1930s disappearance. As someone who loves academic mysteries and deep dives into forgotten authors, I was hooked by the premise alone. While the ’90s setting initially charmed me with its familiar touchstones (Minerva’s Discman loaded with The Pixies, The Sneaker Pimps, and about twenty other familiar things, along with references to things like the Molly Tanzer Library and a philosopher named Stephen Graham Jones), the constant cultural name-dropping eventually felt like too much of a good thing. Moreno-Garcia deftly handles the multiple narratives and ties everything together neatly, though seasoned mystery readers might spot the twists coming. As Ruthie Langmore says, “I don’t know shit about fuck,” and even I was able to see who’s who and what’s what and where things were going. Still, this atmospheric tale of dangerous magic and buried secrets kept me engrossed to the last page and was a way better end to the year!

Overall, I loved it—this might even be my favorite book of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's now?—and suspect that fans of Mexican Gothic and/or The Daughter of Doctor Moreau will as well. The vibes were also very reminiscent of Isabel Cañas’ The Hacienda and Vampires of El Norte. Lovers of dark academia and witchcraft will certainly be into this. I loved the triple timeline going on. I enjoy both historical and contemporary settings, so this felt like I got the best of both worlds. I love how versatile SMG’s writing style is—there aren’t that many contemporary authors that I know of who can so effortlessly slip into several time periods at once! Her writing is so atmospheric (I always feel like I’ve visited Mexico after reading one of her books!) and really transports you to each of the different settings. This book kept me gripped the entire time.

I’d forgotten how lush the descriptive language in a Silvia Moreno-Garcia novel is. I may not be able to travel abroad at this moment but her novels will always transport you somewhere. I savoured the ending of this book and as I sit here with a pint, at a tiny regional pub, I’m glad I did. I’m satisfied. It’s a great horror novel.

There are 3 different time periods which all make the other storyline’s richer. I couldn’t devour this in one sitting and read it in bursts. I loved the strong female characters, Mexican witchcraft woven with country lore and superstitions and the dark academia setting.

No doubt this will haunt me like ‘Mexican Gothic’ did. Thank you for the ARC NetGalley and for the reminder that I need to read more by this author.

I love Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and this book was no exception! Witches, supernatural horror, multiple timelines, and the characters were absolutely amazing! This book is atmospheric and phenomenal! I will say that Alba was a fierce FMC, and I could not put this book down. If you like witches, the supernatural, curses, and grudges, this is absolutely the book for you!

Three women in three different times tell a story of witches, witchcraft, and danger.


Minerva is studying in New England. Very different from Mexico. Minerva has always wanted to be a writer and is obsessed with the writing of Beatrice Tremblay, who wrote some very odd stories.


Lately she just hasn’t got the oomph to do any writing at all.


As she digs more into the author’s time at the same school Minerva is now at,she find disturbing evidence of an obsession with one girl. A girl who went missing. The things that she is saying match everything her grandmother has told her of the shadow thing that affected her life.


And now, something is at Minerva. Is it a witch? It sure feels real!


I love this author’s Mexican Gothic. What a story!




NetGalley/ RHPG Del Rey July 15, 2025

I'm a huge fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and Mexican Gothic has always been my favourite of her books. So, I was thrilled to dive into another historical horror/suspense novel from her—and The Bewitching did not disappoint! I loved how she deftly wove together the three timelines (1900, 1934, and 1990) and found the folklore of Mexican witches absolutely fascinating—so different from how we think of witches today. The Bewitching doesn't come out until July 15, 2025 but it was one of my favourite books of 2024.

Minerva is an international student, researching obscure horror novelist Beatrice Tremblay–or trying to. Most of the author’s papers are held not by a university but by private parties who won’t give her the time of day. At least, not until a chance encounter with the heir of one of those parties gives her the in she’s been looking for. But as Minerva’s research unfolds it reveals startling parallels between the stories her great-grandmother told her when she was growing up. And, perhaps more troublingly, the odd happenings she’s experiencing now.

The Bewitching reminded me a little bit of A.S. Byatt’s possession if it had been populated by witches and the supernatural. Juxtaposing the oral tradition with the archival record and intertwining them with lived, in-the-moment experience was such a smart and compelling choice on the author’s part. The novel’s layered, interwoven stories are anchored in a stunningly rendered 1990’s New England college setting that creates a gorgeously gothic horror story with a compelling and poignant intergenerational plot.

This did feel like three short stories attempting to be woven into a connected narrative, in the sense that another draft was needed. The 1990s timeline winds up feeling more like a retread of the 1900s and 1930s timeline than adding anything to the narrative.

Prepare to be utterly spellbound by Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s The Bewitching, a hauntingly atmospheric tale that masterfully intertwines three timelines to tell the stories of three women whose lives are connected across generations and continents.

In 1998, Minerva Contreras is a Mexican graduate student studying at a small college in New England. Her thesis is at a standstill as she is set on researching a relatively unknown writer named Beatrice Tremblay. Tremblay was a horror writer from the 1930s. and her most popular work was inspired by a real-life disappearance. But as Minerva digs deeper into Beatrice’s past, she begins to feel a sinister presence watching her. Minerva is haunted not only by her research but also by the stories her great-grandmother Alba used to tell her.

Flashing back to 1908, we meet Minerva's Great Grandmother Alba as a teenager in rural Mexico. When her brother Tadeo mysteriously vanishes, rumors of witchcraft are murmured through her village. Alba seeks out the help of the locals involved in the secret craft and chooses the wrong people for help.

Finally, in 1934, the writer Beatrice Trembley, is still just a college student who begins to document her feelings for her roommate Virginia. When Virginia disappears, Beatrice's work gains cult-like status, but the truth behind the disappearance remains a mystery—until Minerva begins piecing together what really happened.

Moreno-Garcia’s narrative seamlessly shifts between these timelines, drawing readers into an intricate web of secrets and horrors. As Minerva uncovers connections between Alba’s family, Beatrice’s work, and the eerie goings-on at her college, the tension mounts. The three women’s stories converge in a climax.

What sets The Bewitching apart is the depth and nuance Moreno-Garcia brings to her characters. The author’s signature blend of gothic suspense, Mexican folklore, and elegant prose shines through, making this her most captivating novel since Mexican Gothic.
Prepare for a dark, immersive journey into the supernatural, where every revelation deepens the mystery and every shadow holds a story.
5 stars! A mesmerizing and chilling read that lingers long after the final page.

#SilviaMorenoGarcia #TheBewitching #RandomHouse #DelRay

This isn't my normal kind of read but I liked it. This was something I couldn't put down. Wow. Thank you so much Netgalley., This book will go on my shelf.

I love the scary nature of this book, I found its twisty plot to be very compelling and I enjoyed all of the twists and turns. Will definitely be enjoying this book again when I share with friends and family.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia does it again with this incredible novel! She weaves Mexican folklore and mysticism into a fresh, exciting take on witches and witchcraft. The story hooked me from the start, and I couldn’t put it down. Switching between different points of view and eras was so smooth—there was never any confusion, and it all came together perfectly. The characters were so well-written, and seeing how their stories connected was just amazing. The pacing was spot on, and the creepy, unsettling vibe kept me on edge the whole time. This is such a cool twist on the usual witch stories we all know. Moreno-Garcia really gets Mexican culture and folklore, and it shows. She’s been my favorite author for a reason, and this book proves why. An awesome read from start to finish!

I absolutely devoured this book. Three stories and one, three different time periods and three different women all connected in different ways. Mysterious, suspenseful, and downright eerie at times. You're following Minerva, Beatrice, and Alba all three dealing with the same kind of dark Power infiltrating their lives. Maybe don't read this when it's dark!

I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. The novel has a densely atmospheric, gothic vibe from beginning to end. The progression of the story vacillates through three time periods and character groups very effectively. Alba, Virginia/Beatrice and Minerva each draw the reader in to their sections of the story. Moreno-Garcia also paid homage to the horror genre and its iconic authors directly in the book which I enjoyed very much. This was the best witchy story I have read in a long time and was one of my favorites of the year.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest reviews.

I don't know why, but Moreno-Garcia books are either a hit or a miss. I loved Mexican Gothic and Silver Nitrate, but am not really caring at all for this book. If Alba's story weren't there, I'd probably like this book a whole lot more.

Unfortunately, this is a DNF. I've read a quarter of it and have found nothing interesting about the plot or the characters. Plus, it moves at a glacial pace. The writing is clear and professional, Perhaps the story just isn't for me. My thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a complimentary ARC. I'm sorry my opinion couldn't be more positive.

Dangerous witches, powerful curses, and unseen, unidentifiable entities lurking in the shadows—this supernatural tale intertwines three timelines into a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat and make you leave the lights on for a month. Yes, I’m sold! This is another masterful supernatural horror from Silvia Moreno-Garcia that I simply couldn’t resist. It’s gripping, terrifying, and endlessly fascinating—proving yet again her unmatched talent in the genre.

The story unfolds across three timelines, each centered around remarkable women and bound together by ominous words: “Back then, when I was a young woman, there were still witches.” Indeed, witches are still out there, lurking in the darkness, waiting to strike.

Timeline 1: 1908
We meet Alba, mourning the sudden loss of her father and tormented by the mysterious disappearance of her brother, Tadeo. Her family suspects no foul play, dismissing any talk of curses or supernatural forces, but Alba remains unconvinced. Valentin, her brother’s close friend, is the only one who believes her family is bewitched, and he vows to help her uncover the truth.

Timeline 2: 1934
Beatrice Tremblay is a college student and budding horror writer, gaining fame with her debut novel, Vanishing, inspired by the real-life disappearance of her eccentric roommate Virginia. Virginia was rumored to have a connection with the dead, channeling them through abstract art. But her sudden disappearance remains shrouded in mystery. Beatrice’s story is as much about ambition as it is about the ghosts of the past.

Timeline 3: 1998
Minerva, Alba’s granddaughter, is a student at the same academy where Beatrice once studied. Obsessed with Beatrice’s unpublished manuscript for her thesis, Minerva seeks out Carolyn, Beatrice’s former friend, now married to Edgar—the former fiancé of the vanished Virginia. Through Carolyn’s grandson Noah, Minerva gains access to Carolyn’s estate, where the manuscript is kept.

But as Minerva delves deeper into her research, she unwittingly unleashes something dark and malevolent. She begins to feel a sinister presence stalking her—something no one else can see. To survive, she must connect with the two women from decades past to unravel the mysteries that bind their fates. Can she defeat the force that threatens her life?

Overall:
This is a fascinating, unputdownable read that I wholeheartedly recommend to devoted fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia and lovers of supernatural horror sagas.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Del Rey/Inklore for providing a digital reviewer copy of this incredible book in exchange for my honest opinions.